The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department today said that around $320 million in subsidies under the Catering Business Subsidy Scheme of the fifth round of the Anti-epidemic Fund have been disbursed to the catering sector.

The scheme, rolled out to support the catering trade directly affected by the tightened social distancing measures, is open for applications until February 18. More than 16,100 submissions have been received so far.

Having expedited the vetting procedures, payments were authorised for over 3,800 applications as of yesterday, with the $320 million in aid being mailed to the applicants by crossed cheques, the department said.

The scheme, as part of the Anti-epidemic Fund's fifth round, provides a subsidy ranging from $50,000 to $250,000 to each eligible licence holder of general restaurants, light refreshment restaurants, marine restaurants and factory canteens in operation according to the floor areas of the premises.

Meanwhile, each eligible catering outlet, if also running a karaoke establishment, nightclub and bar or pub and has closed the whole of its licensed premises as directed under the Prevention & Control of Disease (Requirement & Directions) (Business & Premises) Regulation, can apply for an additional relief of $25,000 according to the respective business.

Licensees of food factory licences in food courts inside shopping malls are eligible for a subsidy ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 according to the licensed area of its premises in operation.

Cooked food/light refreshment market stall tenants, as well as people holding a hawker licence and running a cooked food business in public housing developments, can apply for a subsidy of $25,000.

Separately, for the cancelled 2022 Che Kung Festival Fair, all ex-gratia payments together with the stall licence fees refund have been mailed to all 42 licensees by crossed cheques, the department added.